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Douglas County

Parker VFW post seeks forever home

Veterans want permanent gathering place to improve group’s service offerings

Veterans Gerard Brushaber and Evan Totten man the Parker VFW Post 4266 booth at a community function. Veterans of the post are trying to raise funds to build a facility where veterans can gather and hold events.

Members of Parker’s Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4266 live by the motto “No One Does More For Veterans.” Members have helped support veterans, their spouses and their children in times of need.

They have supported homeless veteran rehabilitation facilities along the Front Range, and are integral in helping veterans find and utilize resources available to them. The post currently serves veterans in Parker, Lone Tree and Castle Rock, and continues to grow each year.

Members of the post think it’s time to find a home of their own, so they can increase services offered to veterans, and help their community. Currently the post meets one night a month for four hours, in a single room they lease from South Metro Fire District.

Now they’re asking for help from the community to achieve their goal.

The Parker group doesn’t have the funds to buy a building, so they are soliciting donations of either land or a building they could use somewhere central to Parker, Lone Tree and Castle Rock. Post Commander Thomas Straley said if they could secure some land, or even a building that needs work, they have more than enough members qualified to do improvements or build out the site. They have also created a Gofundme page to receive monetary donations, with a goal of $500,000.

“Right now we meet one night a month,” said Straley. “We need to have a place where veterans can come together more often. Our own facility would create a space for camaraderie and comfort, as well as more chances for veterans to seek help and solace from fellow veterans.”

Many veterans are hesitant to talk about troubles they may be having with others, fearing they might not understand what they are going through. Talking to other veterans, however, often puts them at ease and brings their defenses down, according to Straley.

A current wish list includes a building with approximately 3,000 to 3,500 square feet, with a kitchen and dining area, and enough space for special events to be held. The new post would not include a bar, and would only serve alcohol during scheduled events. Straley said ideally, the facility could hold 50 to 75 people, and be open at least three days a week for veterans to drop in and get issues resolved.

The VFW 4266 is the only post located in Douglas County, according to Quartermaster Gerard Brushaber, and bringing veterans together not only helps them, but their communities as well. With a place to organize and hold events, the post could better participate in holding fundraisers and activities for local organizations.

“We are looking for a home that will be a part of the community as well as a place of comfort, camaraderie and remembrance for veterans and their families,” said Brushaber. “We also plan to allow other area veteran organizations like the Parker American legion to be able to utilize this facility for their meetings and functions. Our goal is to make this project as much a home and opportunity for the community as it will be for us.”

The Veterans of Foreign Wars serves more than 2.2 million members across the United States, including veterans, spouses and children of veterans.